University of Colorado Boulder

What you'll study

The programme balances individual applied study with classroom work in theory, history and technology. Core components typically include private lessons on your principal instrument or voice, aural skills and music theory, music history and repertoire, and regular participation in ensembles such as orchestra, choir, chamber groups, jazz combos or musical theatre cast ensembles.

Students may choose pathways emphasising performance, composition, music studies (a broader, interdisciplinary BA route) or music technology. Typical modules and topics you will encounter include:

• Applied lessons: weekly one-to-one instruction and juries or recital requirements
• Ensembles and performance practicum: orchestral, choral, chamber, jazz and musical-theatre productions
• Music theory and ear training: harmony, counterpoint, score reading and aural development
• Music history and literature: Western art music survey, 20th–21st-century music, non-Western and popular musics
• Composition and arranging: songwriting, orchestration and electronic composition
• Music technology: recording techniques, DAW work, sound design and electroacoustic practices
• Collaborative theatre modules: musical direction, stagecraft, movement and acting for singers through partnership with the Department of Theatre & Dance
• Professional skills: pedagogy, audition technique, entrepreneurship, arts administration and internship opportunities

The degree structure allows for performance recitals, senior projects or capstones, and opportunities to take electives across theatre, dance, film and other arts disciplines to support careers in musical theatre and interdisciplinary performance.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have completed secondary education with a strong academic record and demonstrable musical experience. Common requirements include:

• Academic qualifications: a secondary-school diploma or equivalent; specific grade expectations vary by applicant background and country.
• Audition or submission: a live or recorded audition demonstrating repertoire on voice or instrument; composition applicants submit scores and recordings; some pathways accept portfolios or technology work.
• Music theory screening: placement testing or evidence of prior study in music theory and aural skills; applicants without formal training may be asked to take preparatory coursework.
• Optional supporting materials: letters of recommendation from teachers or conductors, a personal statement outlining musical aims, and a résumé of performance experience.

International students should demonstrate proficiency in English according to university policy. Specific audition formats, repertoire lists and minimum academic thresholds are provided by the College of Music and may vary by concentration.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a broad range of careers in music and theatre. Common paths include:

• Professional performer—orchestral, choral, chamber, solo or musical-theatre roles
• Music educator—classroom teacher, private instructor or university-level postgraduate study
• Composer, arranger or songwriter for concert, film, television and theatre
• Music-technology roles—recording engineer, sound designer, game audio or studio producer
• Arts administration and production—management, programming, producing and community engagement
• Musical director or stage music specialist within theatre productions
• Further study—graduate performance diplomas, MMus, MA in musicology or MFA in musical theatre/production

The programme’s combination of performance training, technical skills and theatrical collaboration prepares graduates for freelance careers as well as staff roles in schools, cultural organisations and the creative industries.

Why study at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder’s College of Music is housed within a major research university, offering conservatory-style training alongside liberal-arts breadth. Students benefit from a close-knit faculty of active performers, composers and scholars, regular public performances and ensemble opportunities, and access to specialist facilities for rehearsal, recording and production.

The university encourages interdisciplinary work with the Department of Theatre & Dance, allowing students interested in musical theatre and stagecraft to develop complementary skills in acting, movement and technical theatre. The campus’s regional and metropolitan links provide internship, collaboration and professional-networking opportunities with performing-arts organisations in Boulder and nearby Denver.

Overall the environment supports both artistic development and career preparation, whether your aim is professional performance, creative technology, music education or work in the wider cultural sector.